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Energy Workforce & Technology Council 90th Anniversary
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Participants Share Key Takeaways, Best Practices as Council Programs Draw to a Close

The Council’s industry leading Executive Leadership, Inclusion & Diversity Business Champion Certification and ESG Certification programs drew a close last week with final networking and best practice sessions dedicated to takeaways and what they’ve learned throughout the programs to build momentum for change within their companies.

Participants from the entire Executive Leadership Program cohort, including those from Advanced Business Development, Engaging Leadership, Permian Engaging Leadership, Middle East Engaging Leadership and the Strategic & Branded Executive, were divided into groups to discuss continuing career development, takeaways from the program, developing others in their organizations, and what future leaders of the industry will look like.

“Networking is really key,” said one participant. “One great thing the Council provided was these networking events. We’re all linked now, so we can stay in touch and continue sharing with each other.”

“One of my key takeaways is a common theme that comes from within … the concept of trust. The leaders we’ve found the most admirable were trustworthy. As potential leaders within our organization, we need to instill in the people around us, below us and above us – in our actions and our words – the trust that enables people to want to follow us.”

Executive Leadership Program Participant

The Inclusion & Diversity Business Champion Program best practice sharing session addressed things participants would like to implement in their organizations from the program and what obstacles they may face.

“As we move on from the program, we’re creating goals and benchmarking. From an inclusion standpoint, we’re continuing and building on that awareness with cultural sessions that help illustrate different experiences. That creates knowledge within the company on the importance of being diverse.”

Inclusion & Diversity Business Champion Program Participant

Another participant agreed that learning about other cultures is an important facet of diversity.

“We have a facility with a significant Vietnamese population, and that group puts on a huge lunch once a year to celebrate lunar new year and invites the whole facility to participate. It’s a really special thing for all of us.”

The ESG Certification Program participants focused on practical advice for the upcoming 2022 program participants.

“We did not have a management oversight committee. Our ESG program is me and my interaction with the executive management team, and that leaves a lot of folks out of the discussion. In 2022, we’re putting together an actual cross-functional group of people at different levels.”

ESG Certification Program Participant

“Identifying all the stakeholders in the company is important,” agreed another participant. “Knowing who’s going to contribute and how, as well as getting buy-in from upper management.”

Other participants stressed the need for budgeting for ESG projects early on.  

“Not identifying that from the forefront is something that your company needs to consider.”

Participants in all sessions also shared recommended resources, books and podcasts, including:

  • Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss
  • Belonging: The Key to Transforming and Maintaining Diversity, Inclusion and Equality at Work by Sue Unerman, Kathryn Jacob, Mark Edwards
  • Podcasts Chuck Yates Needs a Job, Flipping the Barrel and ESG Insider
  • ESG Today newsletter

The Council looks forward to celebrating with each group as they graduate in January 2022 at an in-person event in Houston. Registration for the 2022 programs is open. Visit the Council events page for more information.

For additional information, contact Council Vice President Programs & Events, Peggy Helfert.


Peggy Helfert, Vice President Programs and Events, writes about the Council’s sector-specific best practices and leadership. Click here to subscribe to the Council’s newsletter, which highlights industry practices, workforce development, Council activities and more.
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